KHSD NEWS 5801 Sundale Avenue - Bakersfield, CA - 93309 - 661.827.3100 - www.kernhigh.org
A Tradition of Excellence Since 1893 September/October 2016
Aviation Academy Soars KHSD Career Technical Education is cleared for takeoff and launching North High School students to new heights with an Aviation Academy getting national recognition.
In an effort to increase and prioritize career pathways, an advisory panel with experts from the aviation community was put in place, an experienced professional pilot was hired to teach courses and state-of- the-art flight simulators, and flight preparation and instruction equipment were brought on board.
Magali Lewis says teaching these students the history of aviation and how to navigate the aircraft, as well as a career in the field of flight, is an incredibly rewarding experience.
The students are thrilled with the career-focused curriculum and truly understand what an opportunity this is for them. Jacob Flores called it an amazing experience in a state-of-the-art training environment. Blake Seay wants to be a pilot and says the flight simulators are a tremendous help when learning at such an advanced level.
Ground School prepares students to take the FAA pilot written test, but they are learning all aspects of careers in aviation. This includes FAA regulations, weather, radio communications and navigation, flight safety, aircraft components, weight and balance computations, principles of aerodynamics, airport logistics, and emergency procedures.
Aviation Academy students will also have the opportunity to take flight related field trips and hear from guest speakers and industry experts.
A service of the KHSD Public Information Office • kernhigh.org Energy Academy Awards Focus On Falcons
Left to right: Aaron Jacobson, Academy Coordinator; Rachel Jimenez; Robert Pipkin; Louay Ahmed; John Cadiz; Krystal Raynes; Denise Newton of PG&E; Emily White of PG&E; and Debbie Thompson, IHS Principal The Energy and Utility Career Academy at Independence High School (IHS) hosted a very special event celebrating the accomplishments of the students and the Better Together Energy Academy Program partnership with PG&E.
“Our Academy helps students prepare to succeed in the energy industry and beyond. With an urgent need for a skilled workforce to serve in a range of fields, it’s very encouraging to see programs like this one succeed.” – Dr. Debbie Thompson, Principal, IHS
PG&E’s Energy Academy is a three-year in-school program for students in grades 10-12 at IHS, under the leadership of Aaron Jacobson, Energy & Utility Academy Director. Coursework consists of traditional high school curriculum with energy and utility material infused into everyday learning for graduation credit. In 2014, PG&E expanded support to the Energy and Utility Academy by providing a four-week paid internship over the summer to help students prepare for a career in the energy and utility industry, and expose them to a real-world work environment.
“You are our future engineers, scientists, innovators, and problem solvers. We want to open more avenues for you to explore potential STEM careers so that hopefully, you will one day find yourselves as part of the PG&E family.” – Denise Newton, PG&E Kern Division Leader
The Energy Academy award event provided an opportunity to congratulate these students for their hard work and share some of the projects they completed over the summer while competing for a gold statuette. The group who produced “Conserve It and Deserve It!” took home the award and a check from PG&E for $1,000 to fund their vision.
Community and business leaders, parents and other distinguished guests were in attendance including Dr. Bryon Schaefer, KHSD Superintendent, and Dr. Dean McGee, KHSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and Innovative Programs. Paperless Math Classes A full implementation of technology is taking place in math classes at Kern Valley High School. Nathan Schultz is leveraging technology to create paperless instruction and change the way students interact digitally with mathematical concepts.
Schultz has been working toward integration for a few years and implemented the ideas and technology. He transformed every lesson into common core digital lessons using the Google products. Each “It is a really exciting process, and I think the future of mathe- student was equipped with a Chromebook and a Ti-Npsire CX CAS matics education is bright and calculator. hopeful.
“Students are allowed to use paper and pencil if they want to, but Technology is not a crutch to the real tribute to the technology is that they choose not to. It is enable students to do basic questions. We must important to consider that the point of using technology in class challenge students with such is not to go paperless. The real point is to extend their high level questions that they mathematical thinking.” – Nathan Schultz, KVHS need the technology to answer and communicate that answer.” Schultz says the students are engaged and their comprehension and - Nathan Schultz, KVHS retention has benefitted along with their scores. The average grade in the course improved by 13% above the previous year, using a paperless approach.
“I taught them how to use the technology to get what they need, and immediately the scores jumped above previous years. I moved the rigor way up to compensate, and they excelled at these higher levels.” – Nathan Schultz, KVHS
Knitting Club Promoting Math, Life Skills
Marti Hoyt, a math teacher at South High School, combined her passion for education with a hobby and launched an after-school Knitting Club. The turnout and student support has been exceptional.
Hoyt says knitting reinforces what is taught in the classroom and she compares it to binary code (1’s and 0’s) since there are really only two stitches, the knit and purl. She says you can create new and amazing projects by changing up the pattern and the order of those two stitches.
“Learning a true life skill, feeling the frustration and then the elation when it clicks, that is something all students should experience in and out of the classroom.” – Marti Hoyt
The South High School Knitting Club is surviving on donations from teachers and alumni. Plans are in the works to begin fundraising so students can purchase their own starter kits of knitting needles to practice at home.
West High School Parent & Family Center East Bakersfield High School Parent & Family Center Committed To Education, Engagement
The KHSD is proud of the Parent & Family Centers on KHSD campuses offering educational opportunities and resources for the whole family.
The creation of KHSD Parent Centers support the District’s core values in the commitment to focus on engaging parents and families as an integral part of the success of our students. Research shows that collaborative leadership strengthens our schools and improves services. It is a KHSD goal to address and meet the needs of parents and families in order to fully assist in preparing students for lifelong learning and success.
Parent & Family Centers offer “It is so nice to see the parents walk in and “know” that this is services including: their room. They can use the phone and internet and other
Guidance on creating an resources to improve their lives, as well as their communication email, accessing Synergy and with the school. They feel so welcomed and are not intimidated Parent VUE, the parent app, in because this is their area.” - Terrie Bernardin, Principal, West High order to assist parents in being School informed of their student’s grades The KHSD continues to focus on Parent and Community Engagement
Training and information on through supporting strong relationships, facilitating two-way typing, job skills, and job communication, valuing diversity, advocating for every student, sharing searches power and decision making, and connecting families to the community.
College and financial aid workshops “At East Bakersfield High School, we plan on expanding our parent engagement with amazing involvement opportunities. We Instruction and basic computer are beginning our High School 101, Parenting Partners, One Circle skills Foundation Boys Circles, and Family Engagement Nights. I am Computer/chrome books, working with community-based agencies to bring nutrition and copier, fax, and Internet wellness classes to the school, as well as a financial aid access workshop for our parents.” - Esequiel Esparza III, Community Parenting classes Specialist, East Bakersfield High School
Parent Project with Teen Component Currently the KHSD has eight Parent and Family Centers with plans to open four more this academic year. Connecting families to community resources Parent & Family Centers and Liaisons can be found at the following Daytime and evening English schools: Arvin High, East Bakersfield High, Foothill High, Golden language workshops Valley High, Mira Monte High, Shafter High, South High, and West
Guest speakers High. Real Men Sing A Celebration Of Song
The Choral Music Educators of the KHSD hosted the 12th Annual “Real Men Sing” and “Real Women Sing” events at the Harvey Auditorium on the campus of Bakersfield High School.
These workshops brought together over 700 young men one day and 800 young women the following week from high schools and junior high/middle schools all across Kern County.
“It gives students the opportunity to work with guest clinicians on singing techniques and an understanding of the importance of music in our lives. This is such an engaging opportunity which, in addition to creating beauty, strengthens the bonds of goodwill throughout our community.” “We loved Real Women Sing! My students learned how to focus on every tone and word to - Jenepher Lapp, KHSD Choral Representative make the music beautiful. They had a wonderful experience singing in a mass choir under the knowledgeable leadership of Dr. Hamre. The guest clinician for the “Real Men Sing” event was Travis The girls took notes during the event and we will Rogers. He is a highly sought-after conductor, educator, discuss them in rehearsals for our first concert. accompanist, and leader in Choral Music in California, recog- The day was super helpful!” - Becky Baker, Choir Director, Mira Monte High School nized nationally and internationally for his excellence in teaching. Mr. Rogers has been the Fine Arts Department Real Women Sing Chair and Director of Choral Activities at Napa High School, his alma mater, for 36 years.
Dr. Anna Hamre, is the Director of Choral Activities at California State University, Fresno. She was the guest clinician for the “Real Women Sing” event. Dr. Hamre is a dynamic, highly energetic, and highly skilled choral musician
kernhigh.org
KHSD KUDOS National Merit Semifinalists Congratulations to four Kern High School District students who qualified as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Ryan Crowley Adam Hazelton Jennifer Pusavat Abhishek Srinivas Bakersfield High Bakersfield High Stockdale High Stockdale High
These remarkable KHSD students began this journey in October 2015, when they were four of the 1,600,000 U.S. high school students who took the PSAT/NMSQT. Coming up in March, 7,500 Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in three categories: National Merit Scholarships, Corporate Sponsored Scholarships, and College Sponsored Scholarships. We wish our KHSD students the best of luck!
CHS Cheer Centennial High School cheerleaders have a lot to cheer about!
The cheer team recently accepted a very prestigious invitation to perform in the halftime show at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on December 27, 2016.
They will also perform in the Holiday Bowl Parade; attend a Master Cheer Class; work with nationally accredited choreogra- phers Rob Schultz, Laura Edwards, and AC Cailla; and visit SeaWorld during their exciting trip.
The Centennial High cheerleaders were chosen for this honor due to their long history of performing at charity events in the community.
The team is currently working on fundraising efforts and will begin practicing for the big event in late October.
Running For A Cause More than 200 cross-country student athletes from various school sites in the Kern High School District laced up their running shoes for the annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Kern County 5K Walk and Timed Run event.
“Our hope for a safer Kern County rides on tomorrow’s drivers. By getting our youth involved, we are taking a big step toward fulfilling our vision of a nation without drunk driving. We thank the Kern High School District for joining in the fight to end drunk driving.” – Carla Pearson, MADD Kern County Victim Service Specialist
The event was held at the Park at River Walk on September 24th and raised $62,000, with donations still coming in! According to the organizers, funds are used to help children whose parents have been affected by DUI crashes, provide presentations at schools, and support Victim Impact Panels where victims and advocates speak to DUI offenders.
KHSD KUDOS Ag Teacher’s Hall Of Fame Six years after retiring from Kern Valley High School, Gerald Wenstrand is still receiving top honors for his tireless dedication to young students in the field of agricultural education and Future Farmers of America.
On June 22, 2016, Wenstrand was inducted into the California Ag Teacher’s Association Hall of Fame during the summer conference at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.
“I was very happy when I received the phone call. This is a huge honor. California’s FFA program has the largest membership in the United States. When I was told that I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I was emotional and proud to be part of such an elite group.”
Wenstrand retired from Kern Valley High School in 2010 after a 34-year career as the Ag Science teacher and FFA advisor. He is still involved with agriculture and kids. He also serves as the sheep leader and raises high quality show cattle for 4H and FFA projects.
KHSD Teacher Gets Published Congratulations, Lori Campbell! Campbell had an article published in the quarterly journal of California Association of Teachers of English. Her article, titled A Greater Whole, explores the importance of professional organizations and examines self-discovery as a professional educator.
Campbell now teaches and develops curriculum for the Kern Learn blended online learning program in the KHSD after devoting 26 years to teaching in the classroom.
Expertise Here At Home Kyle Atkin is a resource teacher for mathematics in the KHSD and is a T3 Regional Instructor. T3 is the Teacher’s Teaching with Technology and the Professional Develop- ment arm of Texas Instruments (TI) Education division.
He conducts workshops and conference presentations on the use of TI’s technology in the classroom and has been asked to speak to state education leaders about “The Leader’s Role in Supporting Teacher Development and Technology Implementation.”
“Kyle is an excellent resource-teacher and an excellent leader. It is a privilege to work with him on a daily basis. He cares deeply about ensuring that students get the very best instructionally and that means making sure that our teachers receive the best training to optimize their students’ learning.” – Vickie Spanos, Director of Instructional Services, KHSD
Atkin presented in the month of October at the California Leadership Summits for administrators at the district, county, and state levels. He shared his experiences as a knowledgeable educator in the field. One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern The Kern High School District is once again partnering with the Kern County Library for the community-wide One Book One Bakersfield One Kern (OBOBOK) program.
Founded in 2002, OBOBOK encourages the community to read, engage in the literacy topic, and complete projects relating to the themes in the book. This year, organizers have invited everyone to read The Big Thirst, The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, by Charles Fishman. The book taps into topics about how we use, share, and value water.
Meet the Author: Charles Fishman - discussion and book signing event October 27th, Cal State Bakersfield, Icardo Center, 9001 Stockdale Highway, 7:00 pm
In addition to reading The Big Thirst in classrooms throughout the KHSD, students are also working on a number of projects and exhibits to share with the community.
Traveling Student Art Exhibit: Featuring artwork from a water-themed competition October 7-26 ~ The Younger Gallery, 1430 Truxtun Avenue
The Big Thirst: A student play written and performed by the KHSD Theatre Department October 7-8 at 4:00 pm ~ Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Avenue
Via Arte: Street painting water-themed masterpieces
October 15-16 at The Marketplace
For more information on 2016 KHSD Bond – Measure K, Contact Us please visit http://business.kernhigh.org/bond/ For more information about Kern High School District schools and programs, visit us on the web at: www.kernhigh.org
Kern High School District 5801 Sundale Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 827-3100
Lisa Krch Public Information and Communications Manager [email protected]